DETROIT – Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson went from being on a brief maternity leave to being on the shelf for up to three weeks with a dislocated shoulder.

The injury, which medically is called a subluxation, occurred during the third period of Saturday’s loss in Phoenix.

“It felt bad right away, but then after the game it felt a lot better, but then the next day it was a lot worse again,” Ericsson said. “(It was) pretty much the same (Monday).

“The play kind of ended in front of our net and the whistle blew, but I kind of bumped into someone,” Ericsson added. “I was relaxed with my arm, so that’s how it happened.”

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Ericsson, who will be placed on short-term injured reserve, said surgery has been ruled out for now.

“For right now it’s just rehab, that’s the first step, the only step right now,” Ericsson said. “We’ll see if that works out.”

Ericsson was scheduled to have an MRI after the team arrived back from Phoenix on Sunday, but that was pushed back to Tuesday after he learned his wife’s water broke and soon after delivered a healthy baby girl.

“Yeah, (the) timing was awesome,” Ericsson said. “Evelina’s water broke 30 or 40 minutes before we landed in Detroit. (I) just made it home to bring her to the hospital and then, yeah, everything is just history from there.”

His daughter, Liv, came in weighing seven pounds and four ounces and was born at 11 a.m. Monday.

“We liked the name, but also it has some history with our very good friend, Stefan Liv,” Ericsson said. “So it’s kind of in honor of him too. He was a good friend and a guy that I really respected a lot. We really liked the name and then when it has the meaning too it even felt better. It just came natural.”

Helm won’t play Saturday

Darren Helm has suffered another setback in his hopes of returning to the Wings’ lineup and again it’s a groin that’s acting up.

“He felt it Friday in Grand Rapids and played Saturday,” Wings general manager Ken Holland said.

“He told me Sunday it won’t be an issue. It bothered him in practice Monday and he felt it again today, so the trainers told him to get off the ice.”

It’s not the same groin that gave him issues last month.

Helm will have an MRI later this afternoon to see if there’s a tear.

“It’s precautionary,” Holland said. “It appears he won’t be ready to go Saturday. If he can’t practice he can’t play Saturday. We believe it’s just a nagging groin injury.”

Helm, who played back-to-back nights with the Griffins, has played just one game over the last 18 months with the Wings.

“He’s had a tough go the last 18 months,” Holland said. “We need to make sure it’s nagging and not a tear.”

Ins and outs

Niklas Kronwall (mild concussion) has been cleared and will play Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators.

Xavier Ouellet, who made his NHL debut in Monday's 1-0 shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks, was sent back to Grand Rapids.

"I think it went good," Ouellet said of his first game. "I was really excited that’s for sure, but I tried to keep it inside. I think I managed that pretty good.

"I just played my game," Ouellet continued. "I felt as a player I was ready. I think I managed my game well and did good."

Holland said Patrick Eaves (sprained knee and ankle) will be ready to go Saturday against the New York Rangers.

The Wings don’t have to make any other roster move with Eaves coming back because Helm (groin) will remain on long-term injured reserve.

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